Automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus and system



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,052

w. J. PERKINS AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING ABPARATUS AND SYSTEM Filed Sept. 2, 1922 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 20, 1,928. v j

- a w. J. PERKINS v I 'HAUTOMVAT'IG' FIRE EXTINGUISHINGAPP'ARATUS A D's YsTEM F iled se i. 2, 1922 s Shets-Shee.t 2

Nov. 20, 1928. I 1, 92,052

. w g. PERK-INS' AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS-AND SYSTEM- 5 SheeCs-Sheet 3 Filed Sept 2, 1922 Patented Nov. 20, 1928. i l

. hrs-92,052"

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WI LLIS J. PERKINS,

or GRAND n'arxns, IC IG N, AssIGNoB TO FRANCES 'w. rERxms'onGR-ANn RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC] rrnn-nxrmeoisn ne nrrARAmosANn SYSTEM."

Application fileii September 2, 1922'. -Serial No. 585,898.

The object of. this invention is to provide simple and eflicient means for maintaining a suitable fire extinguishing or other medium or; solution, contained in a sealed receptacle, or

tank, under a direct continuous dependable propelling or ejecting pressure, without the use of compressed air or compressed carbonic acid gas, or a spring pressed piston, or any chemical reacting medium.

A further object is to providesimple and j efficient means for refilling the container'with fire extinguishing or other medium, and simultaneously regenerating or restoring the propelling or ejecting pressure thereon, and rescaling all operative parts.

A further object is to provide an automatic alarm signal in connection with a fire extinguishing apparatus or system, or units therefor embodying my invention.

Other objects of the invention willappear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consis construction, combination, location and: relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as .shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views appearing thereon,, f I,

, portion of a switch board hav ng a series of Fig. 1 is a View in elevation, partly in vertical section, showing one form of an expansible force tank, adapted to contain asuitable fire extinguishing medium or other fluid, in ac; cordance with the principles of my invention, and showing the tank in emptied and collapsed condition with the fluid ejecting member at the bottom of the tank.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to 1, showing the expansible tank in expanded condition, as though filled ready for service, with theejecting member at the upper end of the tank.

Fig. 3 isa view similarto' Fig. 2, showing a modified construction of tank, a flush head being substituted for the ejecting member shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and also showing the complete unit equipment in installed position on a ceiling or other fixed support, with portions of a connected distributing pipe and associated fusible spraying he'ads.

Fig. -Sheet 2 is a view in elevation showing a double arrangement of pressure service tanks, with duplicate distributing pipes and electromagnetic check valve as another form of embodiment of my invention.

ts substantially in the.

' heada Fig. 5 Sheet 2 is'a sectional plan View on line XX, of Fig. {1, looking in the direction of the arrows i Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in sectional ele vation showin a portion of the expansible tank construction in expanded condition, and

a form of electromagnet controlling -valve for stoppingand starting the flow of the fluid .contents of said tank. i

I 7 SheetQis" a fragmentary plan view of twin distributing pipes having a suitable associated mixing-and spraying head, and' terminal attachments for refilling the tank Y and restoring the ejecting pressure.

Fig. 8 Sheet 1 is a .brokenview partly in longitudinal sectional elevation of the distributing pipe terminal refilling end connection.-

Fig. 9 Sheet 1 is a diagrammatic View of a portion of a distributing pipe system and spraying head therefor, and one form of electrical arrangement and switch for actuatlng and controlling or releasing the spraying Fig. 10 Sheet 1 is a view similar to Fig. '9,

showing anotherfform of electrical arrangement and switch embraced within the scope of my 1nvention. v

Fig. '11 Sheet'l is a view in diagram of a glass protected electrical switches grouped thereon for use in carrying out myinvent'ion.

Fig. 12 Sheet 8 is a view in elewation of an expansible pressure'force tank or container showing the application thereto of a can yeniently located automatic alarm. Fig. Sheet 3 is a broken View in elevation, partly in vertical section, of a larger type of expansible pressure tank or receptacle, having a supplemental dead weight propellant thereto of a protected replaceable, non-crushable spraying element adaptedto be buried in ride, its compounds orderivatives, or their or a mixture of soda and water,

equivalents,

with salt added to prevent freezing, if-necessary. The efficient utilization of such a system, both automatically and through manual control, ofttimes requires the location of distributing pipes and spraying elements at other points than onthe; ceilings of the rooms of the area to be protected. The utilization.

' of such a system to its best advantage requires complete equipments of separate units of various fluid capaclty, sizes and radius of pipe.

' distribution, in proportion to the areas to protected. In the use of such a system it'is also advantageous to employ an automatic alarm or signal for each equipment unit. In some casesit may sometimes be desirable to f secure the mixing at a spraying 'head'of two or more chemicals which when combined constitute the fire extinguishing mixture or medium. 1 It is also important to provide sprinkler or spraying heads which are" releasable through the fusing of suitable elements employed in connection therewith, and which-are controlled automatically, electrically or otheran wise, as by the heat developed or temperature rise in thearea in which the system or equipment is installed, or by means/of electric switch controlled circuits. it is also impor- 'tant to maintain the tire extinguishing medium under a @OIlStflIll) dependable pressure force which, when released, causes the medium to be discharged at the desired point.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide an apparatus, equipradical and vitally important and beneficial results, and'others not specifically stated, in

a simple, practical and commercial form in carrying out my inventiom-l propose to employ a constant dependable, preferably all metal, containerlor'tanln which is expansible under interior pressure, and is of greater or less fluid capacity, depending on the area to be served, and to combine therewith one or more distributing pipes, of a length and diameterand equipped with the desired number of spraying heads, having fusible releasing elements, according to the area to be served. it also propose to providesuitable means, such as electrical switches, or other part is designated by the same ,dium.

some cases, a switch controlled electro-magnetically operated means, such as a valve, to control at will the stopping and starting of the flow of the extinguishing or other me- In carrying out my invention, in one form of embodiment thereof, I employ one or more circular bellows wafers 1, preferably of spring metal, and each of limited spring movement, which wafers are superposed, the one uponanother, and hermetically joined together at their adjacent edges by'crimping, soldering, brazing, or electric welding, or by any other suitable construction or formation, to form a pressure tank or container to receivejthe' fire extinguishing medium,, and

which is distended or expanded against the resistance of its own/inherent spring tension by forcing the medium thereinto under pressure, wherebythe contained medium is maintained under a: constant ejecting pressure which is produced by the expausible tank or container itself At one endthe built up series of wafers, is hermetically attached to I the plate 2, which constitutes the base of a supporting frame, while the opposite end of i the series fastened to one end of a hollow fluid e ecting member 3, which member 3'de:

pends into the tank preferably to such depth, as-to force out practically all of the contents of the tank, when said bellows wafer structure is in collapsed osition, as shown in 1. The fluid me ium contained in the tank, is mainly below the ejecting member 3, when. the tank is expanded and filled and in operative condition, as shown in Fig. 2. .Each bellows wafer of the tank has an inherent fluid e ecting force or tension in direct proportion .to the thickness and spring tension of the metalused, and to the number and depth and form of the series of grooves between the inner and outer ments. p

The collapsible tank is supported in any suitable framework, which in the form shown consistsof a series of vertical members 4, supedges of its component ele- I v porting member 5, and 'base 2. This frame,

50 mentor system which attains the foregoing in the form shown, constitutes a visible gaugeby Wl11Ch an observer noting the relative positions of the end of the tank, and the support 5 of the supporting frame, can tell at a glance whether or not the unit equipment/is in normal expanded filled and tensioned or" ejecting condition, or is in more or less emptied or non-serviceable condition.

Ell

lllld 4 collapsed tank.

, expansible tanks of relatively different emptied of fluid when in'collapsed condition.

However, it is evident that if the fluid contents discharged under the force of the col-- lapsing tank is not sufficient to extinguish the fire which'caused the automatic release of the contents of the tank, then the heat generated from the fire would thereafter transform the remaining liquid in the tank into a more or less gaseous condition with corresponding ejecting force, thereby discharging or ejectine practically all, if not all, the liquid in the Somekinds of chemical fire extinguishing mediums, such, for example, asthe so-called foamite, and possibly others, require the mixing of two or more chem cals at the instant of discharge. In some cases the proportions of such-chemicals are equal parts, and in other cases a different proportion is required.- Where equal parts are required, two expan-- sible tanks of the same fluid capacity are re quired. Where unequal parts of chemicals are employed expansible tanks of corresponding relative capacities are required. A dual mixingsy'stem is shown in Fig. 4 wherein it is assumed that more of one chemical than of the other is to be used, and consequently two capacities are indicated.

When a filled and expanded tank is permitted to collapse, that is, when the inherent contractive force of the wafers composing a tank is brought into operation for the ejection of thefire extinguishing medium, such medium is ejected from the tank through the distributing pipe or pipes 7 whichare in communication with the interior of. the tank or tanks. In installingthe distributing pipes extinguishing medium expelled from the.

system in the accomplishment of itsextin- 'guishing functionthrough suitably disposed sprinkling or spraying heads 8 associated with the distributing pipe or pipes 7 Each of these heads is provided with e or more fusible members which serve to retain the medium in the tank or tanks and associated pipe or pipes, but which, when fused, permit thev pressure under which the medium maintained to become effective to cause the medium to be ejected or discharged through said heads. Where the system includes two tanks and twp lines of distributing pipes, in the case where two chemicals are used, the sprinklingor spraying heads 8 are cbrnmon to both pipes, as shown in Fig.7. The proportionate size of the distributing pipe or pipes 7, and of the openings therefrom into the sprinkling-head, determines the pro'portioiiate quantities-ofthe intermixing chemicals being ejected under the same constant ejecting pressure, the chemicals being mixed at the instant of discharge through the common head. i

In many installations itinay be desirable to install apressure tank of a large size so as to contain in a single tank unit a sufficient volume of fire extinguishing medium to protect an entire building, such tanks being placed either in the. httic, or in the basement ofthe building or in any other desired location.

The ejecting force inherent in the tank is,

ordinarily sufiicient to etficiently discharge the medium wherever the tank maybe located. With a larger tank it is deemed advisable,

however, in some cases, in order to reduce the thickness, weight and spring tension pressure of the metal used therein in buildin it up, and thereby reduce the cost of the provisions whereby a supplemental pressure may be employed to augment the inherent spring pressure of the expansible structure tank,- to make of the tank. In Fig. 13 I have shown'such an additional or auxiliary pressure obtained by means of a dead weight 10 mounted in a receptacle 9, which is mounted on the top of tank. I

Since the weight 10 rises and falls'accordingto the expanding or contracting movements of the tank, suitable means for guiding the weight 10 are desirable. F or this purpose it is preferable that thevertical bars 4;t

serve as guides for the lugs l111, which are attached to the weight 9. See Fig. 18.

In the case of such a larger tank, as above described, and as shown in Fig. 13, it is desirable to employ a series of distributing pipes 7, which are extended therefrom in various directions, and of suitable lengths to fully cover the fire area to be protected with the required or desired number of spaced apart spraying heads.

carrying receptacle i I The distributing pipe or pipes 7 may be connected to the tank or tanks in any suitable or convenient :manner. In some cases, however, 1t is desirable that the distributing pipe 7 be detachably.connected tothe tank, I This maybe accomplished in various ways.

A simple detachable connection for said pipe is shown in Fig. 15, wherein a screw threaded boss 37, is provided on the yalve cover 36, or it may be provided on the tank'bottom 2.

Formed on or attached be the end of the pipe 7 is a flange 38, a pipe encircling interiorly .threaded nut sleeve 39, clamps the elements together with the intervening sealing gasket 40 sealing all parts.

As above described, the extinguishing medium is retained in the tank and distributing system, and under the pressure imposed thereon by the spring tension of the expanded tank, whether alone or reinforced by the auxiliary weight; The retention Iof the medium, under pressure, is eflected by means of fusible elements, preferably'located in or associated with sprinkling or spraying heads'suitably located and distributed throughout the area "to be protected. The fusing of the fusible in various ways.

element, in order to releasefithe medium and allowit to be ejected,- mayf be accomplished Or it may be accomplished through manual control by associating with. the fusible felements anelectric resistancecoil'or element,

' indicated at.l5, the circuit of which is under the control of a suitable conveniently locatedswitch. In Fig. 9 I 'have'shown a switch 12 enclosed within a protectingcasing 13, for

controlling the circuit wires 14, of the electric fusing element 15. In Fig. 10 an ordinary i form knife edge switch '12 is shown. Any

suitable source (not'shown) of electrical energy, which-is dependable maybe connected into the circuit thus provided. By means of such an arrangement it will be seen, that in case of an incipient fire'beingdiscovere proximity to a spraying head 8, the fusing of the fusible element of such head. through the switch means described, may be instantly effected, and the fire extinguished before the heat therefrom could possibly fuse such a fusible element.

In some cases it may be desirable,- in'piace of the described individual fusing switches being scattered throughout a building, or over a large area, to. group them, as shown, ata

. common switchboard'lfi, Fig. 11', which may be located: at any desirable point for convenience and dependability in service.

It is desirable'and important, in spraying any high eficiency fire extinguishing medium to provide a manual control of same. so that the spraying thereof'm'ay be instantly stopped and started atflthe will of, the attendant, thereby conserving the use of said medium and relatively safe guarding all persons exposed to the-gases thereby released, and also permitting the convenient and safe replacement of a fused head by a perfect one.

In Fig. 6 is shown a preferred form of a fluid controlling valve for this purpose. This consists of the built. in and absolutely leak proof electrically controlled valve 17. This valve is controlled by means of an electro-magnet, the coil 20 of which is wound upon the core or field piece'21, the'termin als 18, 19 of said coil leading to the switchboard 16, and there controlled by a switch 12, or 12.

" A pipe 22 extending through core21 con- 'stitutes a passageway for the fluid in tank,

to passfrom the tank when released. There is preferably an open'spaceprovided he tween'thei valve 1'1 and the adjacent end of This may be done automatically by the abnormalrise of tempera ture produced by a fire in the vicinitythereof;

the ma net core, a'nd passageways are provided t rough the valve 17, and around the same, said passages and space communicating with the distributing pipe 7, or with a series of said pipes, ifa series-are connected with the valve casing 36. A central sealing element 23, preferably of cork, in direct f alinement withthe tank connecting pipe 22, is

seated firmly in the valve member 17. At the instant ofth'e electric current;- from any dependable source, being switched. into the electro-magnet, the valve 17 with the sealingcork or member 23 isImagnetically drawn forcibly 'againstthe end of the pipe 22,'and held thereagainst firml as long as the control switch remains close, thereby cutting ofi' all outlet of fire extinguishing liquid lfrolrr the tank. The opening of the switch allows 'the valve 17 withits related sealing .cork or member 23 through its own weight, and the pressure force in the tank, to drop away from the end of the connectingtube 22, reestablish ing thereby the free pressure fluid fiowin relation between said pressure tank 1, an distributing pipe;7.

It is evident that the efliciency of a fire extinguishing apparatus of the nature above described, and built up in separate equipment units, would be greatly increased if, when it is performing its normal fire extinguishing "function, it sounded an alarm or signal, thereby attracting the attention of nearby persons or arousing endangered persons from sleep. With this object in view, I have utilized the fact that any discharge ofthe medium from the expansible tank results in itscoll-apsing proportionately; therefore, in accordance with my invention, I employ this collapsing movement to actuation of alarms. In one form this is accomplished by placing a pivoted electrical switch lever 24, see Fig. 12,

in engagement at one end with'the end of the tank. iVhen the tank is'in full expanded position it opens and holds opensaid electric switch lever from the contact 24, which is in the circuit of an alarm device 25. Convers 1 when through any loss of fluid contents .fromsaid tank by fire service, or otherwise, the head of the tank is dowe'red whereupon caused by strains due to the pressure thereon of the material which it is designed to pro .tect, for instance, when embedded in coal in.

ships bunker, or piled up in large quantities on land, ordock; It is a well known fact that some grades of coal are inclined tosponlaid taneous combustion, and fires so created are or in transit, with full automatic fire'protec- 65 generally at depths in the interior of the pile or mass of the coal, rendering-ordinary fire extinguishing methods futile. In Fig. 14 a distributing pipe 7 with any suitably formed fusible spraying or discharging head 8, is shown inside of a protecting pipe 26, which pipe is perforated by a series of openings 27 therethrough; Bands of wire screening 28 therearound, provide free admission of heat to the fusible element 8, while excluding foreign substances such as particles of coal, etc., and permits free exit of the ejected fire extinguishing medium through the meshes thereof.

Protecting or guard pipe 26 may be buried horizontally in a pile of coal or other inflammable material at any desired depth, or may penetrate such pile of material vertically, thereby locating the fusible elements 8 in the vicinity of the origin of the fire or directly at the point-of ignition. In either event,

the automatic releasing through abnormal heat on the fusible element,' and the resulting automaticdischarge of the tire extinguishing fiuid takes place under the most efficient fire extinguishing conditions.

F or the purpose of preventing'the protect ing or guard pipe 26 from forming a vent or chimney in case of a fire, and for the further purpose of facilitating the assembling and withdrawal or replacement of the distributing pipe 7, therefrom, and replacing. same, the outlet end of pipe 26 is preferably sealed by means of a split gland 29 and 80, in connection with the screw'threaded bindin cap nut 81, and sealing gasket 32,-all being firmly secured to the end of guard pipe 26.

By the arrangement described, after the fire is extinguished, the pipe 7 with its fusible element 8, can be Withdrawn from the protecting guard pipe 26,. and the fused element of head 8, replaced with. a perfect element. The tube 7 is then replaced within guard pipe 26, and the expansible tank refilled, and the fire extinguishing equipment unit, is'then again all set for its required duty.

It is evident where single unit equipments are employed, each unit being associated with a single protecting or guard pipe 26, with its related: fire area-and individual'elcctric alarm,

that the exact heat area in a large. fielder mass of coal would, by such alarm means, be

instantly indicated, thereby determining which one of the various distributing pipes in the-area was tobe withdrawn and restored to proper functioning. conditions. I

A frequent cause of fire isspontaneous combustion in bales of cotton on board-ships at sea, or in storage in warehouseslon land. The protected distributing pipe 7 of the character,

'above set forth enables lines ofsuch distributing pipes with their fusible elements '8, to be laid between tiers of cotton-bales, in storage tion thereby secured.

ploy the constructionshown in Figs. 16 and 17, which consists of a short pipe section 41 fitting over and soldered, brazed, or otherwise secured to the spaced apart ends of pipe 7.

Solder-ed or brazed to pipe 41 is the enlarged casing 42 having ther through a series of vent holes 43. One or more fusible elements 44 are formed in or attached to pipe 41. The unit so assembled can conveniently be removed from ends of distributing pipe 7 when fused, and rep-laced by a perfect assembled unit.

' The.r efilli-ng of the ex ansible tank and simultaneous restoration 0 the ejecting force, may be secured in various-ways. One simple arrangement-is shown which consistsin attaching asuitable hand or power operated force pump to the screw threaded terminal 33, see Fig. 8. As the fire extinguishing fluid, of any name or nature or compound, is pumped into the collapsed tank, said tank is gradually refilled and expanded against inherent spring resistance of the series of bellows wafers, and with thelarger tanks against the added dead weight until such tank is fully expanded, and fully refilled. After the removal of the pump, a screw thread sealing cap 34' with suitable sealing gasket 35 makes the terminal connection absolutely tight, as againstthe escape of the contained fluid under the ejecting pressure which is inherent in said tank. The spring pressed valve 35 retains the fluid against the ejecting pressure exerted thereon, while the pump is beingremoved and gasket 35 and screw cap 34 are being replaced. The larger tank shown in F ig. 13 may be filled in like-manner through any preferred one of the several connecting distributing pipes.- All of these features stated and many others which are apparent make the invention one of great simplicity and practicalvalue and importance.

While Ihave referred to the use of my invention in connection with fire extinguishing apparatus I 'do'not propose to confine myself to such, as an apparatus or system embodying any-invention is well suited for many other as limiting it to specific constructions other than as defined by said claims.

Having now set forththe objects andnature of my invention and various arrangements embodying the principles thereof, what I ent, 1s

claim as new and useful and of my owninvention, and'desire to secure by Letters Pattank to enclose a fire extinguishing medium and when filled with same to exert a constant integral spring ejecting pressure on said medium, said tank having an outlet J 2. In a fi-re extmgmshlng apparatus, an ex pansible' self collapsmg tank enclosing a fire extinguishing medium, said tank o'peraIt-ingto' exert'an lnherent qectmg pressure on said' medium, and a distributing pipe communicatmg with saidtank and having a,i'-us1ble ele ment associated therewith, in combination with an alarm or signal device, anda pivotally mounted, spring pressed vlever engaging said't ank and -normally'restrained thereby from movement, but adapted on collapse-0f said tankto cause operation of said alarm or signal device.

3; Ina fire extinguishing apparatus, an expansible and integral spring collapsible tank enclosing a fire extmgui'slnng medium, said tank operating toexert an inherent ejecting pressure" on said medium, and a. distributing pipe communicating-nth said tank, and havmg a fusible element associated therewith, in

combination, with an electrloally operated alarm or signal device, and meansfor'closing the circuit of said alarm or signal device, said means being normally restrained from actuation by said' expanded tank.

In a the extinguishing apparatus, an expansibles'elf collapsing tank containinga fire extinguishing medium, said tank opera.t-

ing to, exert an inherent 'ejecting pressure on, r said medium, and'a distributing pipe communicating Withsaid tank and having a fusible' element associated therewith, in'combination with a closure plug for. said pipe, said plug having ,a valve controlled passage, and constructed to receive the end of a pump, Where by said tank may be refilled.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand-onthis. 26th day of August, A. D. 1922. a T WILLIS J. PERK NS. 

